Understanding HIV-1 Env dynamics to guide vaccines and inhibitors
Official title: Combining Molecular Simulations and Biophysical Methods to Characterize Conformational Dynamics of the HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11389487 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists will use computer simulations and special lab measurements to map how the HIV-1 Env protein moves and changes shape, with goal of improving vaccines and antiviral drugs for people at risk of HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $790,210 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI178833-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389487 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing trial; however, outcomes could ultimately benefit people at risk for HIV by guiding effective vaccines and therapies.
✕Less likely to help
This grant involves basic modeling and does not enroll patients.
What this research studies
This project will combine cutting-edge computer simulations with biophysical experiments to model how the HIV-1 Env spike shifts between open and closed shapes. By studying full-length Env and its conformational states, researchers aim to reveal how these movements affect immune recognition and sensitivity to inhibitors. The work will use advanced molecular dynamics methods to generate atomic-level models of Env opening and identify key states that influence prevention and treatment strategies. The findings could inform the design of vaccines and small-molecule therapies that better target Env’s dynamic behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could inform the design of vaccines and antiviral drugs that better block HIV entry by targeting Env’s motion.
How similar studies have gone: Previous structural and biophysical studies have mapped Env states; this project extends those approaches with advanced simulations to reveal previously uncharacterized states.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abrams, Cameron F — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Abrams, Cameron F
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.